The US authorities on Sunday (27 November) have said that they have no plans to forcibly close the Standing Rock Dakota Access Pipeline protest in North Dakota.

The US Army Corps of Engineers said in statement that it had "no plans for forcible removal" of protesters. "The Army Corps of Engineers is seeking a peaceful and orderly transition to a safer location. This will reduce the risk of harm to people in the encampments caused (by) the harsh North Dakota winter conditions," the statement mentioned.

It also said emergency services might not be sufficiently provided to the region.

The development came after the agency announced earlier that it would close a large swath of land where protestors are camping on in protest against the Pipeline project. It said it will close the makeshift camp for "safety reasons" on 5 December.

However, organisers of the demonstration told a press meeting on Saturday that they would not move anywhere from the protecting site.

Dave Archambault II, the tribal Chairman of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota, had also urged defiance and requested outgoing President Barack Obama to stop the construction.

The Standing Rock 'Water Protectors' Vow to Stay No Matter What the Government Does

In a letter sent Friday to Dave Archambault II, Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, the Army Corps of Engineers said they will be closing a portion of the land north of the Cannonball River on December 5, and that anyone on that land will be "considered trespassing and may be subject to prosecution under federal, state and local laws."

"As long as we continue to stay in prayer and in peace we can accomplish a lot of things in life," Archambault told a crowd gathered at Oceti Sakowin Camp Saturday afternoon. "It's important that we continue to stand together."

"The federal court has never been good to Indian Communities," Archambault said. "We never have a successful record. If we continue to wait for the federal court to rule in our favor it probably won't happen." Source